Just In: Gunmen abduct Imo ex-speaker, 4 others

January 10, 2022 | anaben

Former Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Lawman Duruji has been kidnapped by gunmen.

Also abducted was the wife of Frank Onwumere, an erstwhile Chairman of Okigwe Local Government Area of the state.

Onwumere’s wife was abducted on Sunday while, according to a source, Duruji was abducted on Saturday while returning from a function.
Ezzybee, a businessman in Owerri, was also kidnapped.

Reports have it that Ezzybee was abducted while going to watch a football match.

The gunmen were also said to have seized an unidentified persons at Okwelle junction in Onuimo Local Government Area, Amaraku in Isiala Mbano L.G.A, as well as Ubomiri in Mbaitoli council area of the state.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Micheal Abattam, confirmed the incident while assuring that the command was on the trail of the kidnappers.

He revealed that the person who was kidnapped at Ubomiri had been rescued by the police.

Two shot dead by soldiers in Ogun Community

Imo lawmaker throws away kola nut after constituents reject him

January 8, 2022 | anaben

A former Speaker of the Imo state House of Assembly, Mr Chiji Collins representing Isiala Mbano State Constituency has, in anger, thrown away a plate of kola nut after one of his constituent members challenged him (Chiji) on his alleged lack of performance.

The Speaker’s reaction was captured in a video which has gone viral on social media.

It started when a member of the constituent present at the occasion with the speaker, courageously began pinpointing the alleged failures of the lawmaker. He further asked the former speaker to state reasons why he wanted support again when the one given to him for the past years yielded no political dividends.

That statement caused an uproar in the gathering as the speaker stood up and demanded the young man to sit down.

The young man however ignored the order and continued with his interrogation, until the speaker tumbled the table that had the plate of kola nut and other items for refreshment.

It was gathered that the Speaker’s action brought the gathering to a close as the chaos scared people in the vicinity and some persons took cover to avoid an ugly story.

Having been elected in 2019 under the All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, Chiji became Speaker of the State Assembly after he defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, under the administration of former governor Emeka Ihedioha.

In 2020, he defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC, when Hope Uzodimma, was pronounced winner of the 2019 gubernatorial election by the Supreme Court. He continued as the Speaker, but was later impeached.

Reacting, Vanguard gathered from one of the loyalists to Chiji, who said his name was Acha, they said the video was edited to blackmail the former speaker and that the young man in the video was unleashing abusive words on the lawmaker and not talking about anything performance.

They said: “The young man in that video was trying to blame Chiji for not speaking out during the time of insecurity in the state the young man is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was smuggled inside the town hall meeting to cause confusion. They want chiji to get involved in the battle of insecurity in Imo. All they want to confuse is destroy the image of Chiji. So that their own man can become the next Isiala Mbano lawmaker.”

Imo government sent security operatives to humiliate me — Nwosu alleges

Why Ihedioha can’t join APGA ― PDP

January 5, 2022 | anaben

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Imo State chapter, has disbunked rumour of the former governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha quitting the party.

There have been speculations that Ihedioha planned on leaving the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to contest in the 2023 governorship election.

It was insinuated that Ihedioha was having issues with the National Secretary of PDP, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, who also hails from the state. So, he had decided to leave the party.

But the state chapter of the PDP, Wednesday, has described the rumour as the handiwork of drowning politicians and desperate agents of darkness who are afraid of PDP reclaiming its mandate in 2023.

A statement from the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mazi Emenike Nmeregini, submitted that Ihedioha is the party’s brand and that his amazing performances within his short stay in office will be the party’s message for 2023 elections.

“This party initially did not consider a disclaimer necessary, for the simple reason that Rt. Hon. Ihedioha is not known to prostitute between political parties.

“He is known and has indeed remained a consequential leader, consistent major financier, loyal and dedicated member and leader of our party since helping to found it in 1998.

“For emphasis, there is no other truly democratic party in Nigeria and in Imo State in particular, aside from the PDP.

“We are not unaware of the increasing desperation of agents of darkness, who are afraid of the imminent reclaiming of our stolen mandate come 2023.

“It is incontrovertible that His Excellency Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha CON, is our brand. And our message ahead of the 2023 general elections is the celebrated achievements of the Rebuild Imo administration within the seven months.

“The PDP led Rebuild Imo administration laid a solid foundation for the rebuilding process of our state. It is on record that all the sectors of the state were receiving attention before the usurpers broke into the government house.

“We restored salaries and pensions from 70% to 100% and paid as and when due; adequate security of lives and property began construction on over 33 critical roads across the state; flagged off an audacious agro revolution and youth empowerment; aggressive automated revenue system; autonomous local government administration; implemented the Treasury Single Account; Qualitative free education, aggressive investment drive; transparency, accountability, rule of law etc.

“Our party takes pride in the achievements of the Rebuild Imo administration for which we are being pressured by the people of Imo State across party lines to endeavour to seek their mandate to continue the rebuilding process.

“Lastly, we wish to warn mischief makers, agents of darkness, blackmailers, enemies of Imo State, to look elsewhere and stop any such fake news. Imo people are wiser and are vigilant to these and other devices of the enemies”, the party stated.

Imo government sent security operatives to humiliate me — Nwosu alleges

Nwosu’s Arrest: You should apologise to Anglican Church, CAN tells Police

December 30, 2021 | anaben

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has said the police are the ones who owe the Anglican Church an apology for the gestapo way in which they had arrested the former Chief-of-Staff to Imo Governor, Uche Nwosu, while he was in church for the outing service of his late mother.

CAN admitted that it would never stop the Police or the security agencies from doing their job which include arresting suspected criminals. It would hovever not permit the desecration of worship centres by operatives.

In a statement on Thursday night signed by Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, the Special Assistant on Media and Communications to the CAN President, the umbrella Christian body did not support the effort by the Imo State CAN Chairman, Reverend Eches Divine-Eches, who tendered an apology to the Anglican church for the disruption of its service during Nwosu’s arrest last Sunday.

Instead, CAN’s national leadership insisted there was no reason for any of its officials to apologize over the incident because the apex Christian body had no part in the horrendous action.

The statement reads, “The National leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest of Mr. Uche Nwosu at St. Peter’s Anglican Cathedral Umunwokwe village, in the Eziama-Obieri Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo State.

“We feel highly embarrassed by this ugly development and feel pained that the Nigeria Police had no respect even for the House of God. We cannot remember whether this act of disrespect for God ever happened before in our country.

“The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has nothing to apologize for what the police did because we were never and would never be party to their horrendous action.

“The Police that did the disgraceful thing should appropriately apologise without giving any excuse. We expect them to be more circumspect in the performance of their duties.

“We are not asking the Police or the security agencies not to do their constitutional duties, but the idea of desecrating the House of God in doing so is totally unacceptable, unfortunate and reprehensible.

“In view of the foregoing, we urge the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order and continue to respect all houses of worship, whether church or mosque. This type of act should never happen again in our country.”

Imo government sent security operatives to humiliate me — Nwosu alleges

December 29, 2021December 29, 2021 | anaben

The 2019 Imo state governorship candidate, Uche Nwosu, on Tuesday, has accused the Imo state government of sending security operatives to bundle him from Imo state to Abuja.

Nwosu said this in Owerri while narrating his ordeal on how he was arrested from St Peter’s Anglican Church Eziama-Obiere in Nkwerre Local Government Area of Imo state, during the outing service of his late mother, Jemimah Nwosu, last Sunday.

Nwosu said this was part of what he discovered on the way to Enugu Airport where he was flown in a private jet.

He was taken to the tactical squad office in Abuja where the police informed him that “Someone wrote a petition against me (Nwosu) that I was supplying arms to militants and giving them money.”

He went on to say that the police never officially invited him for questioning about the petition against him.

Narrating his ordeal Nwosu said: “The petition the Police said was from somebody, that their reason for arresting me was alleged that I was supplying arms to militants and giving them money, the whole plan was cooked up in govt house. The security men attached to the government house one Shaba was behind this plot.

“The plot was to humiliate me and malign my image. No security man from the Abuja or state command came for that operation. Those security officers were all security men attached to the government of Imo state.

“Because a normal policeman cannot behave the way they did. They came shot inside the church which no professional police officers could do it. They shot anyhow. They are a killer squad from the government house.

“Nobody invited me or called me on phone I would have answered I did not receive any invitation from the police. So, just like that they came arrested me handled me like a criminal and treated me like I have committed any offence.

“I want the Inspector General of Police, IGP, to investigate the person who ordered for my arrest and the owner of the private jet and who paid for the private jet that took me from Enugu state to Abuja. They took me to the tactical squad office where the IG, now send somebody to come and interview me and I gave my statement, from what I gathered the IG, was not properly briefed on what was going on.”

However, the Imo state government through the Imo state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, has vehemently denied the state’s involvement in the arrest of Nwosu, saying it was purely the activities of security operatives. He urged them to wait for the outcome of the police investigation.

Breaking: Gunmen kidnap Imo chief priest

Uche Nwosu Regains Freedom

December 27, 2021 | anaben

The Imo state 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu has regained freedom, hours after his arrest in Imo state.

Recall that Nwosu was arrested yesterday at St Peter’s Anglican Church by security operatives. Reacting to his freedom, Chikezie Nwadike, his spokesperson in a statement said that Nwosu was never invited by anyone before his arrest yesterday.

Read the full statement below: “This is to inform the general public, friends and well-wishers, supporters and sympathizers that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, who was abducted by security agencies while observing church service at St Peter’s Anglican Church Umunwokwe Village Eziama-Obaire Nkwerre LGA, has regained his freedom and released unconditionally. He never spent a night in their custody as every effort was put in place to get him out.

“Recall the ugly incident that took place yesterday, 26th December 2021, at St Peter’s Anglican Church as security operatives swooped him inside the church during the outing service of his mother’s burial and whisked him away amidst sporadic shootings and harassment of the congregation.

“I have spoken with him and he extended his greetings to all of us out there. While we await a Police report on the reasons for the abduction and arrest, we call on everyone to remain calm and focused because God is in charge of the whole situation.

“Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is a perfect gentleman who has a great deal of respect for constituted authorities and has never for once caught up in civil disobedience. There was never an invitation and if anyone says otherwise, let the person come forth with evidence.”

Uzodimma has no hand in Uche Nwosu’s disappearance —- Emelumba

Uche Nwosu was arrested, not kidnapped

December 27, 2021 | anaben

A police source has revealed that the son-in-law of Former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu was arrested by police officials from Abuja.

Special Force Unit from the office of the Inspector General of Police arrested Uche Nwosu

Uche Nwosu were arrested on Sunday at St Peter’s Anglican church at Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state while he and his family members were on an outing service after the burial of their mother, Jemimah Nwosu.

Gunmen abduct traditional ruler of Mbutu, Imo

Uzodimma has no hand in Uche Nwosu’s disappearance —- Emelumba

December 27, 2021 | anaben

There was panic in Imo State on Sunday following the alleged kidnap of Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law to a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha. He was whisked away from a church service at his hometown, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.

Nwosu and his family were at St Peter’s Anglican church for a thanksgiving service when the gunmen, who operated in an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Hilux vans, invaded the area.

They shot indiscriminately, then proceeded to take their target away, while his security operatives watched without resisting the gun-wielding persons.

While some of Nwosu’s associates suspect that he was kidnapped, others speculated that his arrest was masterminded by the state governor, Hope Uzodinma.

However, the state commissioner for Information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, has denied the speculation that the governor had a hand in what happened.

He had no idea as to whether it was an arrest or a kidnap incident. He however maintained that it was “ridiculous” to allege that the governor had a hand in the disappearance of Nwosu.

Breaking: Gunmen kidnap Imo chief priest

December 18, 2021 | anaben

Hoodlums have reportedly abducted Mr Reginald Ejiogu, Chief Priest of Ala Owerri, in Owerri Municipal Council. This occurred on Saturday morning.

It was gathered that the incident occurred at the Church Christ road by Ihugba street in Owerri.

He was kidnapped with a village chairman of Umunwagbara in Owerri Municipal council.

When the Imo Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Micheal Abattam, was called, he asked to be given time to confirm the story.

Tension however has heightened in the Owerri municipal council as villagers are running about to know the next line of action.

Gunmen abduct traditional ruler of Mbutu, Imo